MI Primary: How 2 Local Web Developers Helped 5,000 People Vote

MICHIGAN — Most Michiganders know the importance of spreading the word about voting, but two local web developers have used their talents to take that mission to the next level this Election Day.

Oakland University student and Troy native Shriyash Jalukar, 21, with the help of fellow developer Katt Mitchell, 18, launched a new application on How To Vote In Michigan. The easy-to-use design allows locals to navigate the crucials steps of voting in an election, including finding out where to vote, which races are on the ballot, and how to find out more about particular candidates.

It’s been a passion project a long time in the making for Jalukar and he knew this primary election, where turnout is typically below 20 percent in Michigan, was the perfect time to launch the tool.

More on Patch: Michigan Primary Election: Your Guide To Voting, 2018 Results

“As a student, I can definitely relate to the feeling many people have - in our busy lives, it's extremely tough to pay attention to politics. This project is important to me, because it's an easy resource and an incredibly easy link for anyone to remember. It takes it down to the basics. Where to vote, who is running are, and what your rights are.”

The application is nonpartisan and links to official government links.

Since being launched the day before the 2018 Michigan Primary, it has already helped more than 5,000 people, Jalukar said, showing him how powerful such an application can be.

“Technology allows us to reach an incredible amount of people just from a simple app or website,” he said. “If this site helped even a few people find out how to vote, then it was all worth it.”

Jalukar and his colleague hope more members of the community will get involved in this election process. He says it doesn’t matter who his neighbors choose to vote for, but that they use their voice.

“It's important to vote in the primary and especially important to vote in local elections because the decisions that affect us at a local level affect us much more,” Jalukar said. “I wanted this project to be as nonpartisan as possible, because I wholeheartedly believe that as long as we're moving towards getting people to vote, we're going to live in a world that reflects interests of everyone.”

Screencapture via How To Vote In Michigan app

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